Happy Birthday - 12/21

Happy Birthday to ~

RHP Asher Wojciechowski (26)
A first round pick by Toronto in 2010, Wojciechowski came to the Astros in the July 2012 10-player trade with the Blue Jays. Wojo spent a good chunk of his season on the DL, but in his 15 games (14 starts) for the AAA Oklahoma City team in 2014, he was 4-4 with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.447 WHIP.

LHP David Rollins (25)
Drafted by Toronto in the 24th round in 2011, Rollins also came to Houston in the big July 2012 trade with the Blue Jays. Rollins pitched for the AA Corpus Christi team for the entire season and was transitioning from a starter to a relief role in the latter part of the season. In 27 games (12 starts), Rollins had a 3.81 ERA and a 1.231 WHIP. He walked 22 batters and struck out 77 in 78 innings. [NOTE: Rollins was claimed in the Rule 5 draft, but I'm currently in denial so I'm leaving him on the birthday list for now.]

2B Austin "Catfish" Elkins (24)
A 19th round pick out of Dallas Baptist by Houston in the 2012 draft, Elkins split the 2014 season between Quad Cities and Lancaster, but also spent a chunk of the season on the DL. In 62 games, he hit .254/.369/.340.

RHP Gerald Benzant (20)
An international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, Benzant pitched his first season in the Dominican Summer League. In 14 games (seven starts), he had a 7.17 ERA and a 1.912 WHIP.

These former Astros mark the day as well ~

RHP Howie Reed (died December 7, 1984 at 47)
Reed came to Houston in an October 1966 trade with the Angels. In four games (two starts) for the Astros in 1967, he was 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.145 WHIP. His best season was 1965 when he played for the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

RHP Joaquin Andujar (62)
Andujar first came to Houston in an October 1975 trade with the Reds and pitched for the Astros from 1976 to 1981 and again in 1988.  In 202 games with the Astros, he had a 3.67 ERA and a 1.377 WHIP.  He was an All-Star with Houston in 1977 and 1979. Andujar made two additional All-Star appearances and won a Gold Glove with the Cardinals, and he earned his one World Series ring with them  in 1982.

RHP LaTroy Hawkins (42)
Originally drafted by Minnesota in the seventh round in 1991, Hawkins came to Houston in a July 2008 trade with the Yankees. In 89 appearances for Houston in 2008 and 2009, he was 3-4 with a 1.71 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP. He has currently pitched 20 seasons for ten different teams with the latest being the Rockies in 2014. He may be turning 42, but I still wouldn't mess with him if I were you.

RHP Philip Humber (32)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the first round in 2004, Humber was claimed by the Astros off waivers from the White Sox in November 2012. In 17 appearances (seven starts) with the Astros in 2013, Humber went 0-8 with a 7.90 ERA and a 1.738 WHIP, a far cry from the perfect game he threw for the White Sox on April 21, 2012. Humber spent 2014 playing for the AAA Oakland affiliate.

Happy Birthday - 12/21

Happy Birthday to ~

C Pedro Coa (21)
Signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela, Coa appeared in 26 games for the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2013, hitting .133/.232/.167. He only appeared in eight games for the Tiburones in the Liga Paralela in Venezuela this winter, but hit a robust .387/.387/.516 in his limited time with the team.

RHP Asher Wojciechowski (25)
A first round pick by Toronto in 2010, Wojciechowski came to the Astros in the July 2012 10-player trade with the Blue Jays. Wojo split his 2013 season between Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City, compiling a combined 11-8 record with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.150 WHIP in 28 appearances (24 starts).

LHP David Rollins (24)
Drafted by Toronto in the 24th round in 2011, Rollins also came to Houston in the big July 2012 trade with the Blue Jays. Rollins spent the bulk of his season with the Lancaster team before a late season promotion to Corpus Christi. He even made a very successful spot start in Oklahoma City. In 30 appearances (20 starts), Rollins was 9-8 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.210 WHIP. He walked 43 batters while striking out 137 in 136+ innings.

2B Austin "Catfish" Elkins (23)
A 19th round pick out of Dallas Baptist by Houston in the 2012 draft, Elkins spent his second professional season with Quad Cities. In 110 games, he hit .234/.368/.350. He walked 67 times while striking out 70.

Former Astros with birthdays today ~

RHP Howie Reed (died December 7, 1984 at 47)
Reed came to Houston in an October 1966 trade with the Angels. In four games (two starts) for the Astros in 1967, he was 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.145 WHIP. His best season was 1965 when he played for the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

RHP Joaquin Andujar (61)
Andujar first came to Houston in an October 1975 trade with the Reds and pitched for the Astros from 1976 to 1981 and again in 1988.  In 202 games with the Astros, he had a 3.67 ERA and a 1.377 WHIP.  He was an All-Star with Houston in 1977 and 1979. Andujar made two additional All-Star appearances and won a Gold Glove with the Cardinals, and he earned his one World Series ring with them  in 1982.

RHP LaTroy Hawkins (41)
Originally drafted by Minnesota in the seventh round in 1991, Hawkins came to Houston in a July 2008 trade with the Yankees. In 89 appearances for Houston in 2008 and 2009, he was 3-4 with a 1.71 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP. He has currently pitched 19 seasons for ten different teams with the latest being the Mets in 2013. He signed with the Rockies as a free agent in November shortly after he did this.

RHP Philip Humber (31)
Originally drafted by the Mets in the first round in 2004, Humber was claimed by the Astros off waivers from the White Sox in November 2012. In 17 appearances (seven starts) with the Astros in 2013, Humber went 0-8 with a 7.90 ERA and a 1.738 WHIP, a far cry from the perfect game he threw for the White Sox on April 21, 2012. Humber signed with Oakland as a free agent in October.

Astros Minor League Roster Moves and Transactions

Oklahoma City/Houston
RHP Philip Humber assigned from Oklahoma City to Houston
SS Marwin Gonzalez assigned from Oklahoma City to Houston
RHP Jorge de Leon assigned from Houston to Oklahoma City

Corpus Christi
The Astros acquired rights to Leo Heras, an outfielder in the Mexican League, who reports have indicated will be assigned to Corpus Christi after passing his physical. Astros County and The Crawfish Boxes have more on the 23-year old lefty hitter.

Roster Moves

In addition to the news that OF Fernando Martinez cleared waivers and has been assigned to Oklahoma City, RHP Philip Humber has been DFA'd and RHP Edgar Gonzalez has been resigned, there are a couple of additional moves at Quad Cities.

QUAD CITIES
RHP Mike Hauschild assigned from Quad Cities to Extended Spring Training.
RHP Cameron Lamb assigned from Quad Cities to Extended Spring Training.
RHP Richard Rodriguez assigned from Extended Spring Training to Quad Cities.

There have been a lot temporary re-assignments back and forth to/from Extended Spring Training so don't read too much into these except for the assignment of Richard Rodriguez to Quad Cities since that is a new assignment. I'm assuming that Lamb is a temporary move to make room for Josh Fields on his rehab assignment.